CHENNAI: Six years (2190 days to be precise) later, Australian all-rounder from Tamil Nadu Nivethan Radhakrishnan returned to Chennai. He moved to Australia at the age of 13 and has grown since. He marked his return with a 59-run knock and a wicket to round off Day 2 of a three-day red-ball match match against Saurashtra at the MRF Pachaiyappa's ground on Tuesday. What is unique about him is that he is ambidextrous.
This is part of a select 12-member team from Australia visiting MRF Academy where the focus is on giving emerging batters, wicketkeepers and spin bowlers exposure to Indian playing conditions. The tour will conclude on August 13.
Nivethan spoke about his journey so far after the knock. "It has been a unique couple of days. Due to COVID and my contract to Tasmania, I couldn't find time to come back here. So I'm feeling really proud of just being able to actually be on the soil. The emblem (on the T-shirt) may be different but the love for the game and the passion remains the same," he told this daily. On his flight to Chennai, he kept thinking about his friends. "The last time a lot of these people saw me when my height was about the stumps and a lot of these people literally taught me how to play cricket. In terms of playing, I just wanted to soak it in and get my muscle memory back, as I have played in these conditions," he added.
Starting off as a right arm off-spinner, his father and junior Tamil Nadu cricketer Anbuselvan insisted he tried try bowling with his left arm. Taking his advice, the the 22-year-old has grown stronger with both arms. He had shown it in his One-Day Cup debut in February 2025 where he scalped two wickets.
"I do understand that just being able to bowl with two hands isn't the be-all end-all like it's just because I do it doesn't mean I'm going to take wickets or necessarily even bowl a lot of overs," he said. Nivethan felt there's a long way to go for the 'finished form.' "All I am trying to do at the moment, especially with this trip in these conditions is actually understand what my strengths and weaknesses are and try to bounce (ideas) off Rafa (Macmillian) and Lloyd (Pope) and see how they go about it," he said.
His father, who passed away in 2023, played an important role in shaping up his career. From being there when he first lifted the bat with his left hand to guiding him in Australia, his death left a deep void in his life. "He has brought so many people out of nothing and he would give them a life. He would teach them how to play cricket and through cricket. He actually taught them life, discipline and why you need to be a better person," he said. Known for managing various teams in the TNCA divisions at once, Anbuselvam has left lasting impacts on cricketers who he has supported with their finances. "From a cricketing sense, he was about competing. May the best man win and compete and that's what he taught me," he added.
The left-arm batter is keen on earning the opener's spot in Tasmania. "It has been a pretty good preseason. I have had a few things to work on as an opening batter for Tasmania where the conditions are probably the toughest for an opening batter in Australia. It's just been you know, working a lot on leaving the ball well and just the simple things," he said.
Nivethan is now keen to improve his batting and earn the opener's spot in Tasmania. I have been working a lot on leaving the ball well and the simple things that you really need to do well every ball to get in and go big," he said.